The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-27
PRESENT PROSPERITY AND ITS CAUSE


We reproduce with pleasure the following
editorial from Yesterdays Sentinel, because
it proves directly and fully the wisdom of
the measures inaugurated and enacted by the
Republican party:
"1n speaking of the exceptional prosperity
of the country it is not required that press
people should credit the good times to the
Democratic administration, nor would any
allusion of that character be entirely free from
demagogy, were it not for the fact that Re-
publicans asserted that Democratic control of
affairs would certainly result in widespread
ruin. The facts demonstrate that Repub
Hcans who made such assertions were liars
cool, deliberate liars. In the face of the
often-r repeated lies of the Republican press and
stump orators In and out of office, the coun-
try is exceptionally prosperous, and while we
do not claim for the Democratic control of
national affairs credit for seed-tine and har
vest, sunshine and shower, we do claim
that prudence Conservatism and watcnfulness
have given to business men confidence that
violent measures policy would be toler-
ated and that this confidence has been pro-
motive of prosperity. Speaking of the iron
and steel industries, the statistics show that
during the first half of 1887 the production of
pig-iron was no less than 5, 05l 500 gross TONS
or 414 012 tons more than during the
spending period last year. The consumption
has augmented to a corresponding extent
AT all events it is shown that unsold stocks
have increased but about 10,725 gross tons
since Jan. l. with the total only 236, 355
gross TONS or about two weeks consumption.
The data relating to steel-rail output is even
more striking; no less than 1.030, $50 gross
tons were produced, within 544, ia tons of
the entire make for the year 1886. This i'm
mense production of iron and steel pre-emi-
nently means business progress and prosperity,
and the facts completely confound the entire
Republican brood of liars
Every measure of tariff and finance under
which the prosperity that the Sentinel boasts
of has been created was passed by Republican
Congresses and approved by Republican
Presidents The tariff laws and import duties
were of Republican origin aud creation. The
monetary system of the country was also of
the origin. The specie resumption acts
were made and approved by Republicans and
approved by President Grant, over the votes
and protests OF the Democratic members of
Congress, with scarcely exception. The
production of iron and steel in this country,
of which the Sentinel makes such proud
mention, was made possible by the present
Republican protective tariff, and would not be
possible and would not be made under the
free-trade laws advocated by Democratic
tors and platforms. The Republicans have
said, and still say, that if the Democratic party
came into power and passed the laws on the
tariff as advocated by them on the stump
and in their platforms, that ruin and loss
would certainly befall these industries
and the country. The Sentinel says these
predictions were Giles, deliberate lies" Yet
this very article quoted is the very best sort
of evidence of the truth of the Republican
predictions. If ''ths immense production of
iron and steel eminently means business
progress and prosperity" it comes under the
laws of political economy passed by Republic
ans, and the direct result of the principles of
the Republican party, the laws of tariff and
protection of the Republican party, and it
could not and would not come under the Dem
ocratic laws of free trade and imitation.
The country is to be congratulated that the
Democratic party has not yet been able to
enact the measures of their theories of
government. Whenever the Democratic
party can form laws on the plans of their
free-trade platforms then the disaster pre-
dicted by the Republicans will come.